Earlier this week there were stories in the press that the UK Food Standards Agency is warning that overcooked starchy foods can contain acrylamide, a chemical liked to cancer. Risks during high temperature cooking Recent concern over the presence of acrylamide in food dates from 2002. Scientists reported that up to “mg/kg” quantities of acrylamide could be formed in carbohydrate-rich foods during high-temperature cooking, e.g. during frying, baking, roasting, toasting and grilling.  Acrylamide (or acrylic amide) is a chemical compound with the chemical [...]

As a busy period of Codex activities gets underway starting with the FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committee for Africa next week (16th January) in Kenya, the Codex Secretariat has conducted a brief review of the highlights of 2016. 39 new texts The core business in Codex is developing international standards and the 39th Commission adopted 39 new and revised texts last year. These included completion of the Code of Practice on Fish and Fishery Products and the subsequent adjournment of the Fish Committee. Ensuring good [...]

Meeting Announcement Date change The 40th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission will take place in Geneva, Switzerland: Monday 17 to Saturday 22 July 2017. The venue will be announced shortly. Consequently the Executive Committee will meet in Geneva from 10-13 July 2017. Photo credit (c) Codex/Sciotti

After three days of fruitful discussions, the 430 participants of the 4th OIE Global Conference on Animal welfare representing more than 100 countries have endorsed a range of recommendations aimed at furthering the improvement of animal welfare worldwide, one of the OIE’s priority domains of work. In addition, a draft Global strategy on animal welfare was presented for the first time to the participants to serve as a basis for discussion during the event. This strategy notably recommends the establishment of [...]

FAO, the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and the Standard Trade and Development Facility (STDF) invite inputs on knowledge and use of the FAO/IFIF Manual of Good Practice for the Feed Industry.  This 2010 manual, a guide for managers of feedmills and the feed industry as a whole, provides comprehensive information and practical guidelines for compliance with regulatory frameworks in response to the Codex Alimentarius Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding. The application of this Code was an important step for [...]

The working group hosted by UK and co-chaired by the USA and Australia met in London from 29 November to 2 December 2016 to complete the tasks set by the 39th Codex Alimentarius Commission. Taskforce to tackle emerging global threat This work involved preparing the work for the Codex Task Force on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which will begin its discussions in 2017. Hosted by the Republic of Korea, this body will review and revise Codex texts to address uses of antimicrobials in agriculture [...]

Handle antibiotics with care Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria change and become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat the infections they cause. It is one of the biggest threats to globalo health, food security and development today. How can antibiotic resistance spread in food? When antibiotics are given to food producing animals or crops, the animals develop drug-resistant bacteria in their gut. These bacteria can then reach humans through food, through the environment or by human-animal contact. World Antibiotic Awareness Week 14-20 November World [...]

Maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticide residues and residues of veterinary drugs are the maximum concentrations of residues to be legally permitted in or on a food. MRLs for pesticides may also be applicable to animal feeds. MRLs are set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Draft MRLs for adoption by the Commission are elaborated by the relevant Codex committees on pesticides and veterinary drugs, on the basis of international, expert scientific advice. WTO SPS workshop The Chair of the Codex Alimentarius Commission Mrs Awilo Ochieng [...]

The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) began work in 1986 hosted by the USA.  CCRVDF determines priorities for the consideration of residues of veterinary drugs in foods and recommends maximum levels (known as MLs) of such substances. The committee also develops codes of practice and considers methods of sampling and analysis for the determination of veterinary drug residues in foods. We have a number of issues before us that will necessitate careful consideration and broad engagement across the [...]

WORLD FOOD DAY FAO celebrates World Food Day each year on 16 October to commemorate the founding of the Organization in 1945. Events are organized in over 150 countries across the world, making it one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar. These events promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all. The theme for World Food Day 2016 is “Climate is changing. [...]